Oar-lock



A. BAYLIES.

(No Model.)

OAR LOCK.

Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED BAYLIES, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

OAR-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,842, dated April 20, 1897.

Application filed January 13, 1897. Serial No. 619,082. (No model.)

Oar-Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to oar-locks, its objects being to provide a device of this character which will permit the free movement of the oar in any direction that may be desired and will prevent the slipping of the oar outboard; also, to provide a support between the oar-lock and the oar which will maintain them at substantially a right angle to each other at all times when in operative position and yet permit the axial turning of the oar in the lock and its withdrawal therefrom without detaching the support from either the oar or look.

The invention will be fully described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims. 1

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the gunwale of a boat with my improved oar-lock attached thereto and also showing a portion of an oar in position in the lock. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of the oar-lock, looking from the outside of the boat. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line mm of Fig. 1.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

1 indicates the gunwale of a boat, and 2 blocks or cleats firmly secured to the gunwale, with a space 3 between their adjacent ends. 4indicates angle-plates secured to the blocks 2 and each provided with a boss 5, which projects upwardly from its upper face. Each of the bosses 5 is provided with an opening 6, and these openings receive the pins 7, which project laterally from a socket 8. The socket 8 projects downwardly in the space 3 between the blocks 2 and is free to oscillate therein. 9 represents the oar-lock, provided with a socket-pin 10, which fits into the socket 8, so as to permit the oar-lock to be turned freely therein. It is evident, therefore, that the oar 11 when in the oar-lock may swing freely in either a vertical or horizontal direction.

Projecting inwardly from the oar-lock 9 is a rod 12, arranged to lie parallel with and be low the oar when the latter is in the oar-lock and be separated from it sufficiently so as not to interfere with the turning of the oar in the lock.

13 and 14 represent rings which are divided transversely, and the ends 15 thus formed are bent inwardly at substantially a right angle and secured to plates 16, which are perforated for the reception of screws 17, by means of which the rings are secured to the oar-handle. These rings are preferably of spring metal, in order that they may be sprung open to adapt them to oars of different sizes or to diiferent parts on the same oar.

As shown in the drawings, the ring 14 is secured 011 the oar at a point where its diameter is less than that at which the ring 13 is secured, and the ring 13 is consequently sprung open slightly to leave a space 18 of uniform width between it and the oar to accommodate the rod 12. A similar space is left between the ring 14 and the oar-handle for the same purpose; but in this case the ring is not sprung open, and a sufficient space between it and the oar of a uniform width is formed by reason of the ends 15 of the ring being bent inwardly. These spaces 18 should be of sufficient width to permit the oar to be turned freely in the oar-lock without undue friction between the rings 13 and 14 and the rod 12, and at the same time permit the rings .13 and 14 to hold the oar-handle and the rod 12 substantially parallel at all times. The rings 13 and 14 should be secured to the oarhandle in such manner that the inner edges of the plates 16 of the respective rings will be in a line with each other, so that they will simultaneously engage the rod 12 when the oar is turned axially in the oar-lock a sufficient distance to cause such engagement. The ring 13 should also be secured on the handle close against the inner edge of the leather 23, secured in the usual manner on the oar.

The oar-lock is provided with an eye 19, to which is attached one end of a chain 20, and

the free end of the chain is provided with a bar 21, adapted to be pushed through the screw-eye 22, which latter may, if desired, take the place of one of the ordinary screws for securing one of the plates 4 to its block 2. This chain prevents all danger of the oar-lock being accidentally lost, and when it is not in use it can be taken out of its socket and be suspended from the chain inside the boat.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the oar-lock Will move with the oar as the latter is swung vertically or horizontal] y, and that by reason of the rod 12 projecting from the oar-lock and being kept substantially parallel with the car by the rings 13 and 14 the oar will be at a right angle to the oar-lock jaws at all times, and consequently the force applied to the oar will be more effectually transmitted to the boat. It is also apparent that the oar cannot slide outboard in the oar-lock, since the ring 13 will engage the oar-lock and thereby limit the outward movement of the oar. The oar cannot be disengaged from the oar-lock without pulling it inboard until the rings 13-and 1e are disengaged from the pin and the leathercovered part of the car is moved beyond the jaws when it may be lifted out from between the jaws. It is obvious, therefore, that the oar will at all times maintain its proper position in the lock while being used, and the rower will be enabled to do more effective and regular work and will be much less liable to catch a crab. The arrangement of the rings 13 and 14: and the rod 12 also permits the axial turning of the oar in the oar-lock for feathering or other purposes.

I believe I am the first inventor of a support between a vertically and horizontally swinging oar-lock and the oar which main tains the oar at a right angle to the lock at all times when in operative position, but which permits the axial turning of the oar in the lock for feathering or other purpose and its removal therefrom without detaching any part of the supporting devices from the oar or the lock, and I therefore do not intend to limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of the parts shown and described to effect this result, since many changes might be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention. For instance, the rod 12 may be attached to the oar and project through an annular space formed by cutting a segmental slot in the oar-lock concentricwith the surface of the oar.

It is also to be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with the gunwale of a boat, of spaced blocks secured thereon, plates secured to the blocks and provided with bosses having openings therein, a vertical socket having laterally-extending pins fitting into the said openings, whereby it is suspended in the space between the blocks to oscillate freely therein, and an oar-lock having a pin fitting into said socket to turn freely therein, substantially as described.

2. The combination of an oar-lock mounted to swing in a vertical and a horizontal plane, an oar fitted in and removable from the oarlock, and supporting devices between the oar and the oar-lock to hold them substantially at a right angle to each other at all times when in operative position, and yet permit the removal of the oar from the lock without detaching any of the supporting devices from the oar or the lock, substantially as described.

3. The combination of an oar-lock mounted to swing in a vertical and a horizontal plane, an oar fitted in and removable from the oarlock, and supporting devices, part of which are attached to the oar-lock and part to the car, to hold the oar and lock at substantially a right angle to each other and permit axial turning of the car in the look at all times when in operative position, and yet permit the removal of the oar from the look without detaching any of the supporting devices from the car or the lock, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an oar-lock mounted to swing in a vertical plane and to turn in a horizontal plane, of an oar, a rod extending inwardly at a right angle from said lock below the oar, and rings secured to the oar to leave a space between the rings and the oar for the reception of the rod, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with an oar-lock mounted to swing in a vertical plane and to be turned in a horizontal plane, and a rod extending from said lock at aright angle thereto, of an oar working in the lock, and rings divided transversely and having their ends bent inwardly and provided with plates by means of which they are secured to the car, said rings embracing the car and the said rod and serving to hold them substantially parallel to each other, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED BAYLIES.

Vitnesses:

LUoY E. BAYLIES, LILLA E. SNow. 

